Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-07-21
GOLD LEAF.
How. Where, and by Whom 1t Is Manu-
factured.

Gold leaf is manufactured in about
twenty shops in New York and its
suburbs. says the New York Evening
Sun. 1t is estimated that 20,800
ounces of gold are consumed annu-
ally here in making gold leaf. Gold
can be beaten so thin that it will take
$4,000 leaves to equal the thickness of
the sheet upons which this paper is
printed. An ounce can be beaten
down to $500 leaves 50 inches
square.
At an establishment in Hudson
street reporter was told that the
gold is bought of brokers in small
ingots, which are melted into bars
about quarter of an inch thick.
These are rolled into a ribbon as thick
as note paper. After passing through
the hands of the beaters it is put in
books interleaved with MANILA tissue,
and twenty books are put in pack
age. The ordinary sells for 81 pack
age, and the best $3.50 to 1915. No
dross comes from the gold as it is
beaten, but there are ragged edges
which drop off. The leaf is used by
gilders, bookbinders, dentists, and
sign painters.
The wages of gold-beaters are $11
week. A piece hand gets S.
beating. A good one can possibly do
two a week, and as many as nine in a
month have been done. Extra is paid
if the workman beats the gold below
five grains to book. Some can do
four and half, and even four, grains
per book"
"How thin can you get itP" beater
in Broome street was asked.
at is beaten to one three-hundred
thousandth of an inch at five grains to
the book. If it gets down to four
grains it is one three-hundred-and-
sixty-thousandths of an inch. The
New York system employs men only,
with girls to do the cutting The
German system employs children of 8
to 9, which system Hastings, of
Philadelphia, tried to introduce here,
but his woikmen struck, and he lost
his lead. On that system men do the
beating and girls do the priming and
filing
How is the gold beaten?"
at is beaten in molds made in Lon.
don from the intestines of cows,
cleaned and vanished with secret
preparation manufactured by Puck
ridge & Nephew, of London. The
skins are put in packages of 900 skins
each, and three of these molds 60 to a
beating"
"How much gold is there in beat
ingp"
FIFTY pennyweight in beating. The
ribbon of solid gold is divided into 40
or 180 pieces, each about an inch
square. These are put into cutch
made of French paper four inches
square. This is beaten until we get the
gold to the edges. 1t is handled with
pincers at that time. 1t is beaten
half an hour. The pieces are then
piled twenty on top of each other.
Then they are cut in four and doubled
over, making 720. They are then put
in 'schoder,' or finer mold cut down.
We fill the schoder with these leaves in
the middle, and break it out to the
edges. We beat it about two hours,
until we draw about ten pennyweights
off the schroeder"
"Does it have to be kept dry?"
1--WE have to keep the windows
shut; but the clutches, schoders, and
molds take up so much moisture that
they have to be put in hot mold to
press the moisture out"
Don't that finish it?"
"Oh, no. The leaves are cut away
again into four with tool called a
wagon, making $3.50. but the molds
hold only 2,700. The molds are beaten
four hours, at the end of each hour
there being what is called a close,
when they are heated. Then the beat
er is through with it and the cutter
takes it. This is the only work done
by girls in New York. They can cut
from thirty-to sixty-four books day,
at q cents IA book. The leaf. when it
gets into Il book, is so thin that it is
handled only with the breath"
How is the work tested?'
"Only with the eye. There is no rule
about the business, but it is surely
matter of skill ard Judgment. The
best is the kind used on glass, which
shows all imperfeotions."
II notice that gold-beaters usually
work in Easements. Why is thatp"
"a firmer blow can be given. If on
the first story, there is jar, which
deteriorates the quality"
''Is there any adulteration in the
businessP"
"The Germans beat what is called
metal leaf with an alloy. 1t is sold
very cheap. It is the oleomargarine
of gold leaf, and will tarnish. Mach
Of It is used by bookbinders." 71a
'When did the trade start?'
sIt is very ancient. 1t is mentioned
in the Bible. Gold was used on Solo
mons temple. The Chinese beat gold
leaf, but it cannot compare in quality
with American leaf. Some of the
Cinnamon had trouble with their en-
plQyer, but they soon ended it. They
gothic employer into their lodge room
and then one after another took a bite
out Of his flesh"
|